There is nothing more annoying than gas and it is quite common apart from in adults, in children. Swallowing a lot of air while eating together with the action of intestinal bacteria causes annoying and uncomfortable gases to form in the intestinal tract.
That is why you have to avoid certain foods in the diet of children since the intake of many of them is usually the cause of the little ones having a bad time. On the contrary, there are other series of foods that can help prevent and counteract such gases in the stomach.
Causes and symptoms of gas
Gas in the stomach usually occurs for two reasons:
- Aerophagia, which is when too much air is swallowed at mealtime or due to a problem when breathing. In the case of babies, it is essential that they can suck both from the mother's breast or from the bottle. Regarding children, it is important to take care of their diet so that they do not have annoying gas.
- The action of the bacteria in the intestine means that adults and children can also have gases.
As for the annoying gases, there are several symptoms that the child may have, such as an excessively swollen abdomen, pain in the intestinal area, flatulence both in the rectum and in the mouth in the form of belching. The truth is that gas is quite annoying and many children have a hard time due to such a stomach problem.
Foods that help avoid gas
As we have already mentioned above, food is key when it comes to preventing the little ones in the house from suffering from the damn gases. Therefore, nutrition experts advise including foods such as:
- Fruits such as the pineapple or papaya.
- Yogurt with bifidus since they contain living organisms that help balance the intestinal flora.
- Both chicken or turkey meat and fish They are high-quality protein foods that are well digested in the intestine.
- Infusions can also be very good at preventing gas formation in children although it is always advisable to consult a pediatrician before opting for them.
On the contrary, there are a series of foods that can generate the appearance of gas and therefore its consumption must be moderate in the diet of children:
- Legumes are quite flatulent foods that tend to produce gas in the stomach. That is why you should moderate the consumption of beans or peas.
- Vegetables like Brussels sprouts or cauliflower they are also ill-advised for those children who are quite prone to gas.
- Carbonated drinks are also not advisable when it comes to avoiding gas.
Some tips when it comes to preventing gas in children
- Experts on the subject advise moving after eating. Lying down right after eating something usually causes gas formation.
- At lunchtime it is advisable to choose boiled, cooked or grilled foods and forget about fried foods.
- Eating slowly and with your mouth closed is key to preventing too much air from getting into your own mouth. Rushing is bad advice, so it is advisable at all times to chew your food quietly and enjoy it.
- When it comes to drinking it is good to do it in a glass and avoid the famous straws. In the case of babies, it is good to buy an anti-colic bottle and thus avoid the formation of gases.
- Don't let your child chew gum regularly Since when more air enters the mouth than normal, the aforementioned gases are formed.